5th August 1998 – the Battle of Hogwarts is over

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE has finally turned up at THE BURROW after not having been seen for weeks. She glances at her favourite tree that she liked to sit at, she eyes the gnomes that clearly people haven’t cleared in ages as they are running all over the place. MOLLY WEASLEY is sitting on a bench outside the house and ARTHUR WEASLEY is over by the garage. Slowly she walks to MOLLY WEASLEY. After all she had been like a mother to her. MOLLY WEASLEY stands and grabs Louisa in her arms, kissing her.

MOLLY WEASLEY
I told him you would come home eventually. You just needed time. Now let me look at you. Oh! you do look a state. Have you eaten? Come on in. Everyone!! I have a surprise!!

LOUISA sees everyone in the kitchen of THE BURROW an hugs each one in turn. GINNY WEASLEY, HERMIONE GRANGER, ARTHUR WEASLEY, RON WEASLEY, HARRY POTTER, and finally GEORGE WEASLEY. There was nobody that she had wanted to see more. She fell into his arms, positively collapsing into them, and cried.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I’m sorry, she whispered,

GEORGE WEASLEY – holding Louisa tightly
What are you sorry for? None of this was your fault

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I’m sorry I ran, I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye. But I just didn’t know.

MOLLY WEASLEY
George is right, don’t be silly, wiping tears,
Now, come and tell us where you have been. Hands her some food

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Everywhere, nowhere, her look turns vague, I guess I just apparated until I arrived somewhere.
Takes a drink – Some Muggles found me the other day and when they told me where I was, I – I couldn’t believe it. I just told them I knew some people around here and was a bit lost.

GINNY WEASLEY & HERMIONE GRANGER exchange knowing looks. They had received the OWL from BILL
WEASLEY & FLEUR WEASLEY to say she had been found, but not said anything to anyone.
I didn’t know where to go. Places seemed to have too many memories or much hate. She looks at George.
So what are you going to do now?

GINNY WEASLEY
Well I’m going back to school I still have to finish

HERMIONE GRANGER
And I’m going back too

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
G-going back? How can you? after everything? Her voice was trembling

RON WEASLEY
Exactly what I said. She’s mad!! Already knows it anyway.

HERMIONE GRANGER
It’s alright for you! you’d already finished! You got to BE Head Girl! I didn’t!

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Sure, because that is really all I was caring about the last few months. The fact that I lost my WHOLE family is obviously nothing to you. thanks Hermione.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE runs out of the house in tears MOLLY WEASLEY AND GEORGE WEASLEY get up to follow her

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Stay put he raises his hands I’ll sort it.

RON WEASLEY
Nice one Hermione He says sarcastically Way to welcome her back

HERMIONE GRANGER
Tuts I didn’t mean it quite like that. It came out … wrong.

HARRY POTTER watches from the front door as ARTHUR WEASLEY goes to the tree to speak to LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE.

GINNY WEASLEY
Harry, you ok?

HARRY POTTER
Yeah sure, it just seems, he shifts uncomfortably, I feel like I understand what she means. It’s a lot. She’s had just as much as me, more. Snape, Voldemort, Parents. I think we are screwed up. We have to be. Otherwise we must be mental.

GINNY WEASLEY
Well that’s something. For you to agree with a Riddle.

HARRY POTTER
Snape-Riddle but yeah

ARTHUR WEASLEY reaches the tree where LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE is standing

ARTHUR WEASLEY
I’m sure it just came out wrong Louisa, you know how she can be.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Yeah, I do but to face this place without Fred it seems… shakes her head… and then that on top.

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Did you think that life would stop? Fred wouldn’t want that, Severus wouldn’t want that. You don’t want that. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here. His tone was very matter of fact.
Your uncle and even your father prepared you for deaths. Did they not?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE thought about this. He was right. It was one of the key things that you learnt as an Auror. When people die. The problem was she hadn’t prepared for so many deaths at such a young age.

ARTHUR WEASLEY
There is something that you need to do though first.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
What do you mean?

ARTHUR WEASLEY
You need to register your father and uncle as dead.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
What if he finds a way back again?

ARTHUR WEASLEY
He sighs with a slight laugh, perhaps this will stop him, but we need to go to the Ministry.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Would you come with me? I’m not sure I can face doing it alone.

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Puts his arm around her shoulder, of course I will. Now I think that Molly wants to feed you up and George wants to get two months’ worth of cuddles in. Will you let them do that?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Of course!!! They walk back to The Burrow I’ve missed it here. I don’t want to leave for that long ever again!!!